Olympics Day 9 – Animal Nation, Five Alarm Funk, Jully Black

by Nick Vail on February 27, 2010

Day 9 of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics here in Whistler was another beautiful sunny day and we where blessed to be able to host some wonderful live performers on stage including Animal Nation, Five Alarm Funk and the well known Jully Black.

Animal Nation Live on Stage Whistler 2010

Animal Nation Live on Stage Whistler 2010

Animal Nation is a local act here in Whistler who was formed in 2004 over a heated argument (by two soon to be hip hop artists) over another bands performance. Animal Nation consists of two members Steige “Tall Man” Turner and Mike “Armadillo Slim” Armitage who are hesitant to call their music ‘hip-hop’ “because a lot of hip-hop sucks” says Animal Nation. They think this is unfortunate because they really love good hip hop but realize the general population thinks hip hop sucks as well.

Animal Nation live on stage Whistler 2010

Armadillo Slim - Animal Nation live on stage Whistler 2010

Animal Nation has appeared on many big stage shows in Whistler during basically every music festival Whistler hosts including Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival’s, Pemberton Festival in 2009 and played in Ottawa during Canada Day festivities in 2010.

Animal Nation live on stage Whistler 2010

Steige Turner - Animal Nation live on stage Whistler 2010

Besides their live performances at different festivals they have also appeared on Peak Season which is a reality tv show about life in Whistler jam packed with the amazing babes and drama that live can bring. On top of their appearence in Peak Season Steige Turner also did the voice for the Reality TV show’s trailer which you can watched here.

Clint Westwood on stage with Animal Nation Live - Whistler 2010

Clint Westwood on stage with Animal Nation Live - Whistler 2010

Animal Nation has released 3 Albums since their origin in 2004 and their latest LP ‘Understanding More About Nothing Than Anybody Ever Thought Impossible or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Music‘ has been one of my favorites since I got my hands on a copy last summer.

Animal Nation live on stage - Whistler 2010

Animal Nation live on stage - Whistler 2010

They have also just released a new EP Album with Sebastian Hochstein (Basti) titled ‘Basti Made Me Do It’ which was created in 3 weeks while Sebastian was visiting Animal Nation in Whistler BC. Animal Nation says “Basti acts as the motivation behind this EP as stated in the intro track, “Basti made me do it, and we’re really glad he did.”

Steige Turner - Animal Nation live on stage - Whistler 2010

Steige Turner - Animal Nation live on stage - Whistler 2010

Here’s a nice piece of literature that I found written about Animal Nation on their CBC Radio site.

“Animal Nation’s 3rd release is so jammed full of steaming hot science that you will most literally be transmorphed into a scientition upon hearing it… but not the boring “I wear safety glasses while studying rocks” kind of scientition…. You’ll become a fully fledged, babe-magnet, chemistry-in-your-face-’til-the-sun-comes-up, Bill Nye the freakin’ Science Guy type of scientition!
Now freak on that, if you will.”
Armadillo Slim DJs the stage - Animal Nation Live on Stage - Whistler 2010

Armadillo Slim DJs the stage - Animal Nation Live on Stage - Whistler 2010

Five Alarm Funk hit the stage shortly after Animal Nation with their crowd going crazy heavy hitting set of funk and relentless grooves with their intense horn lines and percolating afro-beat guitar and you can’t forget their four percussionists that create an unstoppable dance party.
Five Alarm Funk live on Stage - Whistler 2010

Five Alarm Funk live on Stage - Whistler 2010

The band has been traveling across BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan with their 11-peice phenomenon playing over 120 shows throughout Western Canada, playing in many clubs and major festivals including currently the Olympics here in Whistler. They have also shared the stages with such acts as Xavier Rudd, Fishbone, Sly & Robbie, The Herbaliser and Michael Franti & Spearhead.
Five Alarm Funk live on stage - Whistler 2010

Five Alarm Funk live on stage - Whistler 2010

Five Alarm Funk live on stage Whistler 2010

Five Alarm Funk live on stage Whistler 2010

With their appearances at so many festivals across Western Canada their attendees have mentioned that Five Alarm Funk was one of the highlights at these festivals and can’t wait to see them again at their next festival appearances. After seeing Five Alarm Funk for the first time I am in complete agreement with all the other festival attendees across Canada when they say I can’t wait to see them perform here again.
Five Alarm Funk live on stage Whistler 2010

Five Alarm Funk live on stage Whistler 2010

Five Alarm Funk live on stage Whistler 2010

Five Alarm Funk live on stage Whistler 2010

Jully Black was the third and last act to hit the stage on the action packed day of musicians live on stage here in Whistle village square and she did not disappoint.
Jully Black live on stage Whistler 2010

Jully Black live on stage Whistler 2010

Jully Black (Birth name Jully Ann Inderia Gordon) is a Canadian R&B singer of Jamaican heritage who grew up in Jane and Finch a north western North York area of Toronto which is one of the largest concentrations of criminal gangs of any area in Canada. It is also one of the highest proportions of youth, sole-supported families and low-income earners of any community in Toronto. But this didn’t stop her from expanding and elevating her musical passions.
Jully Black live on stage Whistler - Olympics 2010

Jully Black live on stage Whistler - Olympics 2010

Jully has collaborated and written for many large acts in the Hip hop community including the names of Nas, Missy Elliot, Choclair, Destiny’s Child, Kardinal Offishall and Sean Paul. She was also invited to contribute to the Rascalz‘ groundbreaking hip hop single “Northern Touch” in 1998 but was unable to contribute due to other commitments.
Jully Black live on stage Whistler - Vancouver 2010 Olympics

Jully Black live on stage Whistler - Vancouver 2010 Olympics

Along with all of her accomplishments collaborating with many major Hip hop stars she also went threw many struggles during her career. Jully had her first solo debut album scheduled for release in 2003 by MCA Records which was heavily delayed and eventually MCA eventually pulled out and her album never hit the streets.

Jully Black live on stage Whistler 2010 Olympics

Jully Black live on stage Whistler 2010 Olympics

Jully Black live on Stage - Whistler 2010 Olympics

Jully Black live on Stage - Whistler 2010 Olympics

In 2005 she released her new album This Is Me thanks to Universal Music Canada. When her album was released Jully reported her album struggled to sell 15,000 copies. Although according to the piracy report by IFPI, the internation music industry body, there were “2.8 million illegal file swapping requests for her music in the first two weeks of her album’s release.” It can’t be easy for new artists to make a living off their dreams when their fans only support them by illegally downloading their music.

Jully Black and D.shon live on Stage - Whistler 2010

Jully Black and D.shon live on Stage - Whistler 2010

2007 was a ground breaking year for Jully Black when she released her new single entitled “Seven Day Fool” which became Black’s first Top 10 hit in Canada. Shortly after her second album Revival was released in Late 2007 and was awarded a Juno for R&B/Soul Recording of the Year in 2008.

D.shon live on Stage Whistler 2010

D.shon live on Stage Whistler 2010

Jully Black live on stage - Whistler 2010 Olympics

Jully Black live on stage - Whistler 2010 Olympics

Jully Black is not only a Juno winning musician, but she also has become a celebrity reporter for CTV’s daily etalk an entertainment magazine. You can check out the links above to watch her on CTV’s etalk.

Previous Posts: Whistler Vancouver Olympics 2010 Day 7, Whistler Vancouver Olympics 2010 Day 6, Whistler Vancouver Olympics 2010 Day 5, Whistler Vancouver Olympic 2010 Day 4, Whistler Vancouver Olympics 2010 Day 3, Whistler Vancouver Olympics 2010 Day 2, Whistler Vancouver Olympics 2010 Day 1

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Five Alarm November 17, 2010 at 1:52 am

This is the newly minted vid to give everybody a glimpse into the Five Alarm Funk concert expereince!

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